#4 Johnny Gargano
Underdog: Johnny Gargano has been the underdog in almost every match he’s had since he was brutally attacked by #DIY tag partner Tommaso Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in May 2017, so it’s safe to say he definitely fits the criteria for this category.
Held back: Of the four categories, this one is the weakest when comparing Gargano to Daniel Bryan. Although fans can argue that “Johnny Wrestling” was misused after his split from Ciampa – he didn’t even make the main card for TakeOver: War Games – he is by no means being held back at the moment and will challenge for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Philadelphia.
High-quality matches: Just ask anybody who watches NXT to name a few of the brand’s top performers and they’ll immediately think of Gargano. The tag match between #DIY and The Revival at TakeOver: Toronto in 2016 was so good that it was named WWE Match of the Year.
Potential to be champion: World champion? Almost certainly not. However, Gargano’s current storyline and underdog pursuit of the NXT Championship is not too dissimilar to Bryan’s chase for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2013-14.